Storm alerts for six departments in south-east France

Météo France is placing six departments in southeastern France on orange weather alerts for storms from tomorrow (September 14), as yesterday’s high temperatures give way to unsettled conditions.

Read more: Hot spell breaks seasonal temperature records in south-west France

Very heavy rain and hail showers are expected in Drôme, Gard, Hérault, Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rhône and Ardèche, the departments subject to the orange warning.

The alert will come into force at around 06:00 tomorrow morning until 16:00 at the earliest.

The national forecaster has said that there is a “risk of a violent episode [...] accompanied by violent gusts of wind and hail.

“Locally, very heavy rain could cause an accumulation of 70-100mm over a short amount of time.”

Currently, conditions are calm in the areas affected.

A further 87 departments covering everywhere but Alpes-Maritimes and Corsica are already under yellow storm alerts today.

A yellow storm alert does not require residents to do anything in particular, other than remaining aware of the evolving situation.

However, people in orange alert areas are advised to stay at home if possible, secure any possession which could be blown or washed away and to avoid driving down an even partially flooded road if they must go out.

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